Explore Bhutan

Bhutan with its capital Thimphu is located in Asia (Southern Asia, between China and India). It covers some 38,395 square kilometers (slightly larger than Maryland) with 758,288 citizens. Dzongkha is the official language used in Bhutan. As an interesting fact, is sharing borders with China and India.

Bhutan is a small country in the Himalayas. In terms of average wage, Bhutan is a poor country, however the land is fertile and the population small, so the people are well fed, and beggars and homeless are nonexistent, except for few. In addition, the current generation receives free education, and all citizens have access to free medical care. The kingdom became a parliamentary democracy in March 2008 upon the command of the Fourth King. The official name for the country is Druk Yul - Land of the Thunder Dragon - but due to the harmonious nature of the society, it has acquired the additional nickname of Deki Druk (Yul) - (Land of) the Peaceful Thunder Dragon. Although the country expanse is quite small Bhutanese weather varies from location to location mainly depending upon the elevation. The majority of tourists do cultural tours where they visit important destinations in a vehicle. This allows maximum coverage of the country within a limited period of time.

About the country

The topography is mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna. The average density of population is about 20 per km². The climate in Bhutan can be described as varyingtropical in southern plains, cool winters and hot summers in central valleys, severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas. Potential natural disasters are frequent landslides during the rainy season violent storms from the Himalayas are the source of the country's Bhutanese name, which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon

To reach someone Bhutan dial +975 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".bt". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 230 V - 50 Hz (plugs: C, D, G). The sign for the locally used currency Ngultrum is BTN.

Divided diagonally from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle is yellow and the lower triangle is orange; centered along the dividing line is a large black and white dragon facing away from the hoist side; the dragon, called the Druk (Thunder Dragon), is the emblem of the nation; its white color stands for purity and the jewels in its claws symbolize wealth; the background colors represent spiritual and secular powers within Bhutan: the orange is associated with Buddhism, while the yellow denotes the ruling dynasty.

Following Britain’s victory in the 1865 Duar War, Britain and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Sinchulu, under which Bhutan would receive an annual subsidy in exchange for ceding land to British India. Ugyen WANGCHUCK - who had served as the de facto ruler of an increasingly unified Bhutan and had improved relations with the British toward the end of the 19th century - was named king in 1907. Three years later, a treaty was signed whereby the British agreed not to interfere in Bhutanese internal affairs, and Bhutan allowed Britain to direct its foreign affairs. Bhutan negotiated a similar arrangement with independent India after 1947. Two years later, a formal Indo-Bhutanese accord returned to Bhutan a small piece of the territory annexed by the British, formalized the annual subsidies the country received, and defined India's responsibilities in defense and foreign relations. Under a succession of modernizing monarchs beginning in the 1950s, Bhutan joined the UN in 1971 and slowly continued its engagement beyond its borders.
In March 2005, King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK unveiled the government's draft constitution - which introduced major democratic reforms - and held a national referendum for its approval. In December 2006, the King abdicated the throne in favor of his son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK. In early 2007, India and Bhutan renegotiated their treaty, eliminating the clause that stated that Bhutan would be "guided by" India in conducting its foreign policy, although Thimphu continues to coordinate closely with New Delhi. Elections for seating the country's first parliament were completed in March 2008; the king ratified the country's first constitution in July 2008. Bhutan experienced a peaceful turnover of power following parliamentary elections in 2013, which resulted in the defeat of the incumbent party. The disposition of some 18,000 refugees of the roughly 100,000 who fled or were forced out of Bhutan in the 1990s - and who are housed in two UN refugee camps in Nepal - remains unresolved.

Geography

Area

Total (World Rank: 137)

38,394

sq km

Land (World Rank: 134)

38,394

sq km

Forest (World Rank: 123)

10.70

%

Comparative

slightly larger than Maryland; about one-half the size of Indiana

Landborder

1136

Elevation

Lowest point (World Rank: 25)

97

m

Highest point (World Rank: 5)

7,570

m

Agricultural land

Total (World Rank: 179)

13.60

%

Arable (World Rank: 173)

2.60

%

Permanent crops (World Rank: 159)

0.30

%

Permanent pastures (World Rank: 123)

10.70

%

Irrigated land (World Rank: 122)

320

sq km

Map reference

Asia

Environment

Issues

- limited access to potable water

- soil erosion

Agreement party

- Biodiversity

- Climate Change

- Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

- Desertification

- Endangered Species

- Hazardous Wastes

- Ozone Layer Protection

Agreement signed

Law of the Sea

Hazzards

- frequent landslides during the rainy season

- violent storms from the Himalayas are the source of the country's Bhutanese name, which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon

Following Britain’s victory in the 1865 Duar War, Britain and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Sinchulu, under which Bhutan would receive an annual subsidy in exchange for ceding land to British India. Ugyen WANGCHUCK - who had served as the de facto ruler of an increasingly unified Bhutan and had improved relations with the British toward the end of the 19th century - was named king in 1907. Three years later, a treaty was signed whereby the British agreed not to interfere in Bhutanese internal affairs, and Bhutan allowed Britain to direct its foreign affairs. Bhutan negotiated a similar arrangement with independent India after 1947. Two years later, a formal Indo-Bhutanese accord returned to Bhutan a small piece of the territory annexed by the British, formalized the annual subsidies the country received, and defined India's responsibilities in defense and foreign relations. Under a succession of modernizing monarchs beginning in the 1950s, Bhutan joined the UN in 1971 and slowly continued its engagement beyond its borders.
In March 2005, King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK unveiled the government's draft constitution - which introduced major democratic reforms - and held a national referendum for its approval. In December 2006, the King abdicated the throne in favor of his son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK. In early 2007, India and Bhutan renegotiated their treaty, eliminating the clause that stated that Bhutan would be "guided by" India in conducting its foreign policy, although Thimphu continues to coordinate closely with New Delhi. Elections for seating the country's first parliament were completed in March 2008; the king ratified the country's first constitution in July 2008. Bhutan experienced a peaceful turnover of power following parliamentary elections in 2013, which resulted in the defeat of the incumbent party. The disposition of some 18,000 refugees of the roughly 100,000 who fled or were forced out of Bhutan in the 1990s - and who are housed in two UN refugee camps in Nepal - remains unresolved.

Flag description

divided diagonally from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle is yellow and the lower triangle is orange; centered along the dividing line is a large black and white dragon facing away from the hoist side; the dragon, called the Druk (Thunder Dragon), is the emblem of the nation; its white color stands for purity and the jewels in its claws symbolize wealth; the background colors represent spiritual and secular powers within Bhutan: the orange is associated with Buddhism, while the yellow denotes the ruling dynasty

Economy

Gdp

Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 169)

6,508,000,000

USD

Real growth rate (World Rank: 22)

6.20

%

Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 145)

8,200

USD

Source agriculture (World Rank: 60)

16.40

%

Source industry (World Rank: 17)

42.20

%

Source service (World Rank: 201)

41.40

%

Labourforce

Total (World Rank: 159)

353,000

In poverty (World Rank: 141)

13.30

%

Products

Industries

- alcoholic beverages

- calcium carbide

- cement

- processed fruits

- tourism

- wood products

Agriculture

- citrus

- corn

- dairy products

- eggs

- rice

- root crops

Exports

- calcium carbide

- cardamom

- cement

- dolomite

- electricity (to India)

- ferrosilicon

- gypsum

- steel rods/bars

Imports

- airplanes

- fuel

- lubricants

- machinery

- motor vehicles

- parts

- rice

Communication

Phone

Landline total (World Rank: 173)

21,081

Landline per 100 (World Rank: 166)

3.00

Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 141)

93.00

Assessment

0

Internet

Users (World Rank: 158)

313,347

Population (World Rank: 137)

41.80

%

Transport

Air

Airports paved (World Rank: 175)

2.00

Airports unpaved (World Rank: 181)

1.00

Road

Total length (World Rank: 135)

10,578

Paved length (World Rank: 117)

2,975

Unpaved length (World Rank: 95)

7,603

Popular places in this country

This is a list of famous places in this country in alphabetical order.